Ease my worrying please

meghans30

My 3 yo has had a 102 temp all day. The meds haven't really helped. I did cal the pedi. who said to just watch him. Fevers make me nervous. My boys really rarely get fevers with illnesses.... I don't need to bring him to the ER, right? He woke up a little while ago with a fever and has been sitting here chatting with me.

crazynervous

No u do not need to tie him to the ER. If he continues to have a fever with no other symptoms after a few more days your doctor might want to see him.

meghans30

crazynervous:

No u do not need to tie him to the ER. If he continues to have a fever with no other symptoms after a few more days your doctor might want to see him.

My rational self knows he is ok, but my worry wart side wants to spend the night in the ER....  

MediaBride

Have you tried piggy-backing tylenol and motrin?  A cool bath?  A 102 fever is ok b- my pedi usually says that it's fine as long as meds bring it down (even a degree is better than nothing).  For us, if meds aren't helping, the bath usually does (DS2 is my fever guy!).  Should not be cold, just cool... or a cool washcloth on his forehead/neck... wet his hair, his face etc.  

Fevers make me nervous too, but I think if he is comfortable and you can do the bath/meds, you're ok until the AM.  Then I'd prob call the ped and see if they want to see him.  Hope he feels better soon! 

Mominator

No. You definitely do not need to go to ER for a 102 degree fever. Honestly, unless my kid is completely lethargic, I don't even medicate until their temperature reaches at least 103. Are you alternating Tylenol and Motrin? I've heard some say that helps.

meghans30

Was piggy backing most of the day. It would bring it down a degree, but he keeps waking and currently has a 102 temp with meds If he isn't better in the am I will be bringing him to the pedi. I am 95% sure it's a virus and needs to run it's course, but I'm also nervous.

ali-1411

Mominator:

No. You definitely do not need to go to ER for a 102 degree fever. Honestly, unless my kid is completely lethargic, I don't even medicate until their temperature reaches at least 103. Are you alternating Tylenol and Motrin? I've heard some say that helps.

Ditto.  Half the time, I don't even bother with the thermometer.  I judge it based off how they are feeling and how hot the rest of their bodies are.  I don't know if its all kids or just mine...but a minor fever and just their head is hot.  When they are really sick, even their feet are burning up.

J&A2008

ERs are bacteria/viral cess pools.  Unless he's at a temp where your pedi/nurseline says to bring him in, keep him home.

AndiG

Hi,

I am responding late, so hopefully your DS is better today and you won't need this info.

Last Friday my DD woke from her afternoon nap with a 103 fever which stayed high - I called the on-call nurse and she mentioned that there is a virus going around where the kids have a 102 - 105(!) temp for up to 5 days, no other symptoms.  She said if DD kept the fever until Sunday she would need to be seen (so two days) to rule out other causes, otherwise just keep her comfortable and well hydrated (unless other symptoms came up of course). 

I'm in Ma too, so I thought I'd mention it.

Zenya

I don't medicate a 102 fever either. 

JenninMA

AndiG:

Hi,

I am responding late, so hopefully your DS is better today and you won't need this info.

Last Friday my DD woke from her afternoon nap with a 103 fever which stayed high - I called the on-call nurse and she mentioned that there is a virus going around where the kids have a 102 - 105(!) temp for up to 5 days, no other symptoms.  She said if DD kept the fever until Sunday she would need to be seen (so two days) to rule out other causes, otherwise just keep her comfortable and well hydrated (unless other symptoms came up of course). 

I'm in Ma too, so I thought I'd mention it.

 

My son had that virus over the winter. It was awful but went away after about five days.

justEK

J&A2008:

ERs are bacteria/viral cess pools.  Unless he's at a temp where your pedi/nurseline says to bring him in, keep him home.

This. Unless he's acting really weird, I'd just keep him home and hydrated. I also don't medicate a 102 fever.

ghm

ali-1411:

Mominator:

No. You definitely do not need to go to ER for a 102 degree fever. Honestly, unless my kid is completely lethargic, I don't even medicate until their temperature reaches at least 103. Are you alternating Tylenol and Motrin? I've heard some say that helps.

Ditto.  Half the time, I don't even bother with the thermometer.  I judge it based off how they are feeling and how hot the rest of their bodies are.  I don't know if its all kids or just mine...but a minor fever and just their head is hot.  When they are really sick, even their feet are burning up.

I don't even know where my thermometer is. I'm generally good at telling how hot they are and very rarely use a thermometer. So ditto all of this. 

mikeandmonica

Is the fever down this morning?

meghans30

mikeandmonica:

Is the fever down this morning?

Fever is down this am to 100. He is eating and is on the mend. Thanks for all of the responses. 

Jodi&Joe

I'm surprised by how many people don't medicate for a 102 fever.  Have you ever had a 102 fever?  It's effing MISERABLE and I reach for the Motrin/Tylenol asap to feel some relief.  I like to provide that same relief to my kids when they have a fever.  WHY don't you give motrin/tylenol?  For 99 or 100, ok.  But over 100, medicate the poor babies!!!

justEK

100 is not a fever. Justin's normal temp is 100.9. If it's 102 and they are acting blah, I'll give them something. But 102 and acting fine, why give them something? She said he was hanging out talking to her. She didn't say he was acting sick.

 

ghm

Jodi, the point is that we don't medicate for the number, we medicate for the symptoms. I'd medicate a 99.5 temp if they felt bad.

Jodi&Joe

justEK:

100 is not a fever. Justin's normal temp is 100.9. If it's 102 and they are acting blah, I'll give them something. But 102 and acting fine, why give them something? She said he was hanging out talking to her. She didn't say he was acting sick.

 

I said OVER 100. 

And I still can talk when I feel like crap!   LOL

Mominator

ghm:

Jodi, the point is that we don't medicate for the number, we medicate for the symptoms. I'd medicate a 99.5 temp if they felt bad.

This. Of course if my child is acting sick and/or has other symptoms other than the fever I will medicate, but my DD has had fevers over 103 in the past and still been acting fine. And when I have a 102 degree fever, yes I feel crappy, but fevers are just generally different in kids.

Mominator

meghans30:

mikeandmonica:

Is the fever down this morning?

Fever is down this am to 100. He is eating and is on the mend. Thanks for all of the responses. 

Glad to hear he is feeling better!

buffalo_buckeye

Jodi&Joe:

I'm surprised by how many people don't medicate for a 102 fever.  Have you ever had a 102 fever?  It's effing MISERABLE and I reach for the Motrin/Tylenol asap to feel some relief.  I like to provide that same relief to my kids when they have a fever.  WHY don't you give motrin/tylenol?  For 99 or 100, ok.  But over 100, medicate the poor babies!!!

Fevers actually help the body fight the bug. So unless they are really miserable I don't medicate either bc I want them to recover ASAP. I stopped medicating for vaccines too bc there are studies that suggest they decrease the immunity if you give them before/during the vaccinations.

stacynikki

buffalo_buckeye:

Jodi&Joe:

I'm surprised by how many people don't medicate for a 102 fever.  Have you ever had a 102 fever?  It's effing MISERABLE and I reach for the Motrin/Tylenol asap to feel some relief.  I like to provide that same relief to my kids when they have a fever.  WHY don't you give motrin/tylenol?  For 99 or 100, ok.  But over 100, medicate the poor babies!!!

Fevers actually help the body fight the bug. So unless they are really miserable I don't medicate either bc I want them to recover ASAP. I stopped medicating for vaccines too bc there are studies that suggest they decrease the immunity if you give them before/during the vaccinations.

Ditto...and our pedi says the same.

Zenya

Mominator:

ghm:

Jodi, the point is that we don't medicate for the number, we medicate for the symptoms. I'd medicate a 99.5 temp if they felt bad.

This. Of course if my child is acting sick and/or has other symptoms other than the fever I will medicate, but my DD has had fevers over 103 in the past and still been acting fine. And when I have a 102 degree fever, yes I feel crappy, but fevers are just generally different in kids.

yes.  I am very pill happy for all of us.  Just sometimes my kids are hot and not  miserable.